Early Antibiotic Exposure and Weight Outcomes in Young Children.

View Abstract

: media-1vid110.1542/5839981580001PEDS-VA_2018-0290 OBJECTIVES: To determine the association of antibiotic use with weight outcomes in a large cohort of children.

METHODS

Health care data were available from 2009 to 2016 for 35 institutions participating in the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network. Participant inclusion required same-day height and weight measurements at 0 to <12, 12 to <30, and 48 to <72 months of age. We assessed the association between any antibiotic use at <24 months of age with BMI score and overweight or obesity prevalence at 48 to <72 months (5 years) of age, with secondary assessments of antibiotic spectrum and age-period exposures. We included children with and without complex chronic conditions.

RESULTS

Among 1 792 849 children with a same-day height and weight measurement at <12 months of age, 362 550 were eligible for the cohort. One-half of children (52%) were boys, 27% were African American, 18% were Hispanic, and 58% received ≥1 antibiotic prescription at <24 months of age. At 5 years, the mean BMI score was 0.40 (SD 1.19), and 28% of children had overweight or obesity. In adjusted models for children without a complex chronic condition at 5 years, we estimated a higher mean BMI score by 0.04 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.03 to 0.05) and higher odds of overweight or obesity (odds ratio 1.05; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.07) associated with obtaining any (versus no) antibiotics at <24 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Antibiotic use at <24 months of age was associated with a slightly higher body weight at 5 years of age.

Abbreviation
Pediatrics
Publication Date
2018-10-31
Pubmed ID
30381474
Medium
Print-Electronic
Full Title
Early Antibiotic Exposure and Weight Outcomes in Young Children.
Authors
Block JP, Bailey LC, Gillman MW, Lunsford D, Daley MF, Eneli I, Finkelstein J, Heerman W, Horgan CE, Hsia DS, Jay M, Rao G, Reynolds JS, Rifas-Shiman SL, Sturtevant JL, Toh S, Trasande L, Young J, Forrest CB,